West’s best Thunder lose two key players to major injuries

The Oklahoma City Thunder have announced that two big-time players will be missing a ton of time, impacting the Nuggets and the rest of the West

BY JAKE SHAPIRO

Oct 26, 2026, 4:28 PM

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Two players who have been a thorn in the side of the Denver Nuggets will be sidelined for significant portion of the season.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have announced that both former All-NBA forward Jalen Williams and reigning All-NBA Second Defensive Team guard Cason Wallace are out indefinitely. Williams suffered a nasty injury on Sunday, dislocating his left ankle and fracturing his fibula. Wallace tore the labrum in his left shoulder. Each player needs surgery. ESPN reports that each player could miss most, or the entire season.

It’s a big hit to the Thunder, who have seen their odds of winning the Northwest Division, which features the Nuggets, drop from -575 to -325. They’ve also had their West odds dip from +160 to +200 and championship hopes go from +300 to +360. Oddsmakers have docked two wins off their projected total.

It’s a bummer for Williams, too. The Denver-born breakout star of the Thunder who played a critical role in the 2024 title, was limited to 38 games last season between the regular and postseason. He had already had a massive game against the Nuggets in OKC’s home opener, leading the Thunder to a win behind his 21 points.

And the Thunder had just given a massive payday to Wallace after his leap last year, becoming one of the best defenders last season. He started to really pop during the 2024 playoffs, as one of the many defenders who bothered Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets in their seven-game series win. The other members of that wing group that disrupted Denver and have beaten them now six straight times were Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, Lu Dort and Alex Caruso. The last player on that list, Caruso, is the only player left on the Thunder and healthy.

The Nuggets won’t meet the Thunder again until Jan. 30. OKC is still the West favorites, barely above the Spurs, and are 3-0 after finishing atop the conference each of the last three seasons — including winning the 2024 championship

Denver is already dealing with their own injuries, nothing as serious as the Thunder. But two games into the Nuggets’ year, they’re without Cam Johnson, Spencer Jones, Julian Strawther and Alpha Diallo — all on the wing.